Railway signaling device.



P. H. SHUE. RAILWAY SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1909.

Patented. July 19, 1910.

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P. H. SHUE.

RAILWAY SIGNALING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1909.

Patented July 19, 1910.

5 SHEETSSHEBT 2.

RS cm, wAcl-nucnm, 12.0.

P. H. SHUB.

RAILWAY SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1909.

964,569,, Patented July 19, 1910.

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P. H. SHUE.

RAILWAY SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1903.

964,569., Patented July 19, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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Patented Ju 1y19,1910.

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UNFF @T PHILIP H. SI-IUE, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

RAILWAY SIGNALING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 9, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known-that I, PHILIP H. SHUE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Denver, in the county of Don ver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Signaling Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in railway signaling devices of the semaphore type, and its object resides in the provision of a simple but effectual mechanism whereby the momentary closing of a normally open electric circuit will cause a movement of a semaphore blade for the purpose of indicating to engineers of approaching trains, by its position in relation to its support, whether or not the section of the railway at whose entrance the signaling instrument is located, is unobstructed.

My invention includes, to this end, an eleotromagnet whose armature controls the vibratory movement of a pendulum and a therewith associated escapement which, when liberated, permits three cooperative members of a transmission mechanism, to operate consecutively for the purpose of causing a semaphore blade, operatively con nected with one of said members, to revolve through a quadrant are. To render the de vice available for service at night, the semaphore blade is provided with a plurality of incandescent electric light bulbs, the service wires of which terminate in two contacts one of which moves with the arm, while the other is secured upon a stationary support and from which electric conductors lead to a suitable source of electricity. I furthermore provide two contacts which when brought in engagement by the same mechanism which actuates the signaling blade, close an independent electric circuit which includes an auxiliary signaling de vice or a recording instrument which being located at a remote point such as a station or train-despatchers oflice, indicates or records the movements of trains running in a division of the railway system.

An embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in the various views of which like parts are similarly designated and in which,

Figure 1, represents a central, vertical section through my improved signaling instrument, Fig. 2, a similar section taken along a plane at right angles to that of Fig.

1, Fig. 3, a plan-view of the instrument in which lines 11 and 22 respectively indicate the planes of the sections shown in Figs. 1 and 2, Fig. 4, a transverse section taken along the line 4-4 Fig. 1, Fig. 5, an enlarged, partly sectional view of the escapement and the therewith associated parts of the operating mechanism, Fig. 6, a plan view of the devices shown in Fig. 5, Fig. 7, an elevation of the three cooperative disks comprising the transmission mechanism, in their positions at the initial point of their operation, Fig. 8, an elevation of the same disks looking in the direction of the arrow Fig. 7, Fig. 9, a fragmentary view of the middle and upper disks in their positions after the former has completed the first half of its revolution, Fig. 10, a View looking in the direction of the arrow d Fig. 9, Fig. 11, a view similar to that shown in Fig. 9, with the two disks in their positions after the upper disk has completed a revolution and the middle disk begins the second half of its revolution and Fig. 12, a view lookingin the direction of the arrow f, Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawings by numerical reference characters let the numeral 2 designate a preferably cylindrical casing within which the mechanism which operates the signaling device, is mounted upon a framework 3 composed of 4 interconnected upright angle bars which are secured to the circumferential wall of the casing by braces 4. The casing 2 may be supported upon a pole or other structure in any suitable manner and it carries upon its conical top a set of standards 5 upon which a semaphore arm 6 is rotatably mounted. The arm 6 consists of a rectilinear bar which is supported upon the standards by means of centrally disposed gudgeons 7 and which is formed at opposite sides of its center with longitudinal recesses 8, designed to receive a plurality of incandescent electric light bulbs 9 which serve to render the device available for use at night. The conductors 10 of the electric circuit in which the bulbs 9 are located, connect a suitable source of electricity 12 with a contact plate 13 secured upon one of the standards 5 and with the terminals at one side of the bulbs, whose opposite terminals connect, electrically, with the bar 6 and, through the instrumentality of a brush 14 on the said bar, with the plate 13. One of the gudgeons 7 carries a bevel gear wheel 15 which meshes with a similar wheel 16 upon the upper extremity of a vertical shaft 17 which extends through a sleeve 19 whose lower end projects into the casing, and upon whose upper extremity it is rotatably supported by means of a ball bearing 18. A bevel gear wheel 20 secured at the lower end of the shaft 17, meshes with a similar, smaller gear 21 which is associated with the operating mechanism hereinafter to be described, and the proportion between the various gears is such that when the last named gear 21 describes a complete revolution the gear 15 connected with the semaphore arm 6, revolves through a quadrant arc. The mechanism above referred to, comprises three vertically successive cooperative disks 22, 23 and 24 which are loosely mounted upon shafts 22 23 and 24 supported in bearings on the frame 3. The axis of rotation of the middle disk 23, extends at right angles to those of the upper and lower disks 22 and 24, and each of the disks is formed with a peripheral notch (indicated in the drawings respectively by the numerals 22 23 and 2%) which is adapted to receive, when out of alinement with the notch in an adjoining disk, the latters circumferential portion for the purpose of holding the disk 1n which it is formed, against rotation. Mounted respectively, upon the three disks are spring-held pawls 22, 23 and 24 which engage the peripheral teeth of ratchet wheels forming part of winding drums 22 23 and 2& which are mounted upon the shafts 22*, 23, and 24t of the disks 22, 23 and 24. Connected with the respective drums upon whose circumferential surfaces they wind, are upwardly ranging ropes or cables 22 23 and 2st which work in sheaves 22 23 and 24 secured at the top of the housing, and from which are suspended weights 22 23 and 2M which, when the respective disks are free to rotate, actuate the same by their gravitative tendency. The weight connected with the drum of the lower disk 22 is sufficient to counteract the friction between said disk and the bearings in which it is supported while the weights of the other disks are made heavier for the purpose of developing the power required to move the semaphore arm 6. The shafts of the various disks are provided at one of'their extremi ties with thumb pieces 22 23 and 24 by means of which the rope 22 23 and 24s may be re-wound upon their respective drums. Firmly secured upon an extremity of the lower shaft 22 is an escapement wheel 26 formed in concentric relation to a circular plate 27 which is provided near its peripheral edge, with an aperture 2'? through which the extremity of the bent arm 28 of a lever 28 normally projects. The opposite arm of this lever, which is fulcrumed at 29 upon a stationary support, carries an armature 30, placed in contiguity to the core of an electromagnet 31, whose windings connect by means of conductors 32, with a suitable circuit closing apparatus preferably disposed at a remote point of the railroad track to be operated by the passing trains.

A pendulum 33, which is fulcrumed upon a bar 3st forming part of the frame 3, carries an anchor-shaped verge 35 whose pallets are arranged to engage the peripheral teeth of the escapement wheel 26, and the extremity of the above mentioned arm 28 projecting through the aperture 27, extends normally in the path of the upper extremity of the pendulum to arrest its vibratory movement.

The middledisk 23 carries a spring controlled dog 36, whose outer extremity protrudes, normally, beyond the circumferential edge thereof, to engage, during the operation of the mechanism, the vertical faces of the adjoining disks 2% and 22, and this dog has a nose 36 arranged to project into a concentric groove 3'7 on the lower disk or a similar groove 38 on the upper one. The groove 37 which terminates in the radial edges of the notch 22- of the disk 22, is obstructed at one of the said edges by a transverse stop 39 which, by engagement with the nose 36 of the dog 36, arrests the rotative movement of the wheel for a short period during the operation of the mechanism, as will hereinafter be explained.

The upper disk 2% carries a spring-controlled dog 40, similar to that on the middle disk and the three disks are formed upon one of their faces with spiral cams 22 23 and 2%, whose edges are, during the operation of the device, engaged by the extremities of the dogs 36 and lO.

The shaft 24* of the upper disk 24 carries a contact a1, which during each revolution thereof, engages a stationary brush &2 on the frame 3 for the purpose of closing an independent electric circuit 4L3 which, as mentioned hereinbefore, includes a signaling instrument (designated in the drawings by the numeral 44), at the oflice of the train despatcher or other distant point.

Having thus described the mechanical con struction of my improved signaling device its operation is as follows :-lVhen the various members of the mechanism are at rest and the magnet 31 is deenergized, the extremity of the arm 28 of the lever 28 projects through the aperture 27 a of the circular plate 27 and in the path of the upper extremity of the pendulum 33, and the 3 disks 22, 23, and 24, are in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8 of the drawings. hen by actuation of a circuit closing device, the circuit of the electromagnet 31 is closed, the armature 30 being attracted to its core, will cause the lever of which it forms part to move about its fulcrum with the result that its extremity 28 is withdrawn from the path of the pendulum and from the aperture 27*, of the plate 27. The disk 22 being now free to rotate, is impelled by the gravitative action of the weight 22 and the consequent unwinding of the rope 22 on the drum 22 whose movement is by means of the pawl 22, transmitted to the disk. The latter thus impelled, revolves in the direction of the arrow a Fig. 7, until the stop 39 in the circular groove 37 engages the nose 36 on the dog 36, when the notch 22 is in register with the notch 23 on the middle disk and the latter actuated by the weight 23 and the therewith cooperative parts, is free to revolve about its axis. As soon as the rotatory movement of the second disk is commenced, the engagement of its peripheral portion with the radial sides of the notch 22 in the lower disk 22, will lock the latter against rotation and the said movement is continued until arrested by the engagement of the protruding portion of the stop 36 with the face of the upper disk as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, at which time the notch 23 is brought in register with the notch 24% on the upper disk 24 permitting the latter to rotate by the impelling action of the weight 24 lVhen the last named disk has completed a revolution, the semaphore blade 6 has through the instrumentality of the cooperative gears hereinbefore described, performed a; of a revolution and it is in consequence, moved either from the vertical position which is indicative of danger to the horizontal position which indicates that the track is clear, or vice versa. At the termination of the revolution of the upper disk 24:, its further movement is arrested by the engagement of the protruding portion of the dog 40 with the face of the middle disk (as has been illustrated in 11 and 12 while the notches 24 and 23 are again in register and the middle disk 23 is free to complete its revolution, for the reason that during the movement of the upper disk, the stop 36 by engagement with the cam 24 was brought to its retracted position in which its outer extremity is flush with the peripheral surface of the disk. After the middle disk has completed its revolution, its movement is arrested by engagement of the protruding portion of the stop 36 with the face of the lower disk and its notch 24 is thus once more brought in register with that of the latter with the result that the lower disk being unimpeded, continues its interrupted movement in the direction of the arrow until the arm 28 of the lever 28 impelled by a spring 22, reenters the aperture in the disk 27 and thus arrests the movement of the disk 22 and in consequence that of the superposed disks, and the various parts are returned to their original positions. It will thus be observed that by the momentary energizing of the magnet 31, the semaphore arm is rotated through a quadrant arc and that, immediately after this function is performed, the various members of the transmission mechanism are automatically returned to their original positions.

The automatic action of the above mentioned mechanism will take place each time the magnet is energized, until the ropes from which the actuating-weights, are suspended, are unwound from their respective drums, when by means of the thumb-pieces at the ends of the disk-shafts, they may be rewound.

While I have shown and described the apparatus in the best form now known to me I wish it understood that variations in the construction and arrangement of the parts, such as, for example, the number of the disks employed in the transmission mechanism or the means by which they are independently actuated, may be resorted to within the spirit of my invention.

hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a railway signaling apparatus, a movable signaling blade, a series of succes sively arranged disks each having a peripheral groove, into which the next adjoining one projects, means adapted to independently impel each disk when its groove registers with that of the adjoining disk, a transmission means operatively connecting one terminal disk, with said blade, a device normally restraining the opposite terminal disk, an electromagnet adapted to actuate said device so as to temporarily release said disk and means associated with said disks to limit their rotative movement.

2. In a railway signaling apparatus, a rotatory signaling blade, a series of successively arranged disks, each having a peripheral groove into which the next adjoining one projects, means adapted to independently impel each disk when its groove registers with that of the adjoining disk, cooperative means on said disks to limit their rotative movement, means for converting the movement of one terminal disk into a movement of the blade through a quadrant arc, a device normally restraining the opposite terminal disk, and an electromagnet adapted to actuate said device so as to temporarily release said disk.

3. In a railway signaling apparatus, a rotatory signaling blade, a series of successively arranged disks, each having a peripheral groove into which the next adjoining one projects, means adapted to independently impel each disk when its groove registers with that of the adjoining disk, means for converting the movement of one terminal disk into a movement of the blade through a quadrant are, a device normally restraining the opposite terminal disk, an electromagnet adapted to actuate said deviw so as to temporarily release said disk, and spring controlled dogs on said disks, normally protruding beyond their peripheries so as to limit the movement of the disks with which they are associated, by engagement with one of the adjoining disks, the various disks being formed with cams which by engagement with the dogs on the adjoining disks will cause them to retract at a prede termined point of the operation.

4. In a railway signaling apparatus, a movable signaling blade, a series of successively arranged rotatory disks having cooperative means whereby they are normally interlocked and separately released during the rotative movement of the next preceding one, means adapted to separately impel the said disks when released, transmission means operatively connecting one terminal disk with the said blade, a device normally restraining the opposite terminal disk and a contrivance adapted to actuate the said de vice so as to temporarily release the said disk.

5. In a railway signaling apparatus, a movable signaling blade, a series of successively arranged rotatory disks having cooperative means whereby they are normally interlocked and separately released during the rotative movement of the next preceding one, means adapted to separately impel the said disks when released, transmission means operatively connecting one terminal disk with the said blade, a device normally restraining the opposite terminal disk a con trivance adapted to actuate the said device so as to temporarily release the said disk, and a means associated with the said disks to limit their rotative movement.

6. In a railway signaling apparatus, a movable signaling blade, a series of successively arranged rotatory disks, having cooperative means whereby they are normally interlocked and separately released during the rotative movement of the next preceding one, means adapted to separately impel the said disks when released, transmission means operatively connecting one terminal disk with the said blade, a device normally restraining the opposite terminal disk, and an electromagnet adapted to actuate the said device so as to temporarily release the said disk.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PHILIP H. SHUE.

Witnesses:

G. J. ROLLANDET, M. L. GEARY. 

